Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-06-14
TO TRY REV. NM. TODn.
The Presbytery Summoned % Meet and
Consider the Casa.

call viii be issued to-day for q meeting q the
Presbytery OF washington to consider the case Of
Rev. F. n. Todd, OF Manassas, against whom
charges have been made, based upon the state
ment OF colOred man, who asserts that he discov-
cred the reverend gentleman IN company with q
woman, in a compromising situation.
II have received" said Rev. John L. French,
moderator OF the presbytery, to a STAR reporter
to-day, requests from both stdes-from Nr Todd
and those making accusations against him-to
call meeting OF the presbytery. Under the laws
governing the presoytery ten days notice has to
be given OF such meeting, and so have called
the meeting for the 25th."
evil the meeting be held in this city" asked
yves" said Mr.. French, sat Dr. Bittineer's
church. II 1t were decided to have q trial the
cannot say what the presbytery Win do. Il is :
Dc held on the sSth It win probably Be- DECIDED
decided to have trial ten days notice Win have
70 De given. under the rule, and the presoytery
s %1 issue 81. summons Or citations To- witnesses to
Mould such a trial take place before the whole
Yes said the moderator, '.if 1t were an actual
trial The presbytery might appoint an investi-
eating committee or commission to md out
whether there were grounds for trial or not, but
as whole. The presoytery appoints some Of its
members to conduct the trial on Its behalf and the
,c selects member OF the presbyteryt 70 con.
quot his case as counsel"
Of the case.
Mr.. ToDDs REQUEST FOR Az INVESTIGATION.
d. sunderland, when he came home nom
Manassas last night, delivered to Rev. Mr. French,
the moderator of the Presbytery, q paper from
Rev. MI. Todd, requesting that the Presbytery ap-
pOlnt committee to investigate the charges that
nave Deen brought against him. The form OF the
ca! 70 Dc issued for meeting Of the Presbytery u
tended meeting to be to take action with reference
10 charges against Rev. Francis NJ. Todd. STAR
reporter was informed to-day by member OF the
Presbytery that in case any one appears at the
meeting on the 25th instant who IL ready to take
the responsibility OF the charges against Mr.. Todd
ana preferred to go TO trial BY consent OF al
10 trial The church discipline prescribes
that any person bringing charges against o
minister and failing to sustain them is liable to
cenSure for circulating scandal. In some cases,
however, the Presbytery itself takes the RESPONSE
Dll1ty and then the Presbyterian Church becomes
the prosecutor and is represented by some person
appointed for the purpose who, however Is not re-
sponSible for q failure OF the prosecution.
Mr.. ToDDs D1F1NsI.
The friends OF Mr.. Todd here who have &C.
quatnted themselves with the circumstances of
the case seem quite confident OF his ability to clear
himself Of the charge hanging over him. As has
been stated, the defense Will be an alib! and one
gentleman said that Mr.. Todd will have proof to
show that he was three miles from the place.
wnere the cOlored manTurner located him. There
Will De evidence also to show personal antmOStty
on the part OF Turner toward Mr.. Todd as well as
on the part OF those who got Turner 10 make an
affldaVfC.